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Posts Tagged ‘Broadway’

A lot has gone on since I last posted, but my lack of posting will soon come to an end as I’m going to try to start writing here often. Many of you know that we are expecting our first child in February, so I have already begun reading the books, reading reviews of baby products, and following bloggers and the like on Twitter. It’s amazing how, within a few months, my web browsing habits went from looking at ear bud reviews to baby strollers and spit up blankets. I could definitely see myself getting into reviewing baby products. There are just so many different items out there and I have yet to find a great blog for new dads who are looking for the best monitor or for some tips on becoming a father for the first time. I’ve got some fun ideas for future posts which I’m looking forward to working on. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with our announcement which combines our love of Broadway with my Photoshopping skills.

I’ve heard numerous Broadway fans talk about how much they love Patti LuPone, but I have never seen her in a show or in person. Last night, my wife bought tickets for us to go see her perform songs from her new album, Far Away Places at Carnegie Hall. I’ll be very honest, I wasn’t particularly excited about going but I’m always up for hearing live music and experiencing NYC in new ways. About halfway through the concert, I found myself really enjoying it. As someone who used to perform on stage, I admire how good she is at what she does. She is so comfortable on stage and is one of the few remaining classic Broadway actresses. She embodies Broadway. My opinions of her completely were altered by this performance. I especially enjoyed the moments when she really spoke to the audience as herself and didn’t recite the scripted lines in between the songs. We were even treated to a rendition of Bobby McGee with a special appearance by Bridget Everett who LuPone said is one of the best performers out there right now. The rest of it? “Well, most of it is shit,” she explained. I’m not sure half of the audience there last night would appreciate Everett’s show but I’ll certainly be going to see her perform live at some point.

Tonight we continue the early birthday celebrations with a trip to see Little Miss Sunshine. Will post about it next week. Enjoy your weekend.

Let’s hope that Leonard, the sex-crazed, foul-mouthed writer so very well played by Alan Rickman in the new play Seminar, doesn’t read this. He’d immediately tear it to pieces, calling it a bunch of garbage. This is what he does to most of the four aspiring writers in this comedic new play written by Pulitzer Prize nominee Theresa Rebeck.

It’s always a breathe of fresh air to come into a new piece of work and not really know what to expect. When I first heard about Seminar I thought it was going to be very similar to Master Class, which was recently revived on Broadway for a limited engagement. It wasn’t. I also thought this might be a star vehicle, throwing Alan Rickman in a show a block away from Harry Potter. However, this isn’t the case. It’s very much an ensemble piece and the actors are all excellent, funny and believable.

Four aspiring young novelists sign up for private writing classes with Leonard, an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmoored. The wordplay is not the only thing that turns vicious as innocence collides with experience in this biting new comedy.

I found much of the play predictable and the characters a bit one dimensional, but there’s a smart humor in the play and some great lines. The show flows very well from scene to scene and takes place in one location for most of the 90 minutes until we are surprised by being whisked to a new set.

While watching the play, I found myself waiting with anticipation to see what would come out of Leonard’s mouth next. I recommend SEMINAR to those of you who enjoy seeing new works by up and coming playwrights and to those who aren’t offended by strong language and flashing of breasts.